Time to bounce back for Liverpool

13 January 2017 09:14

It may only be a couple of weeks old but 2017 hasn’t been a good year so far for Liverpool. Despite an impressive first half of the season for Jurgen Klopp’s men, which sees them propping up Chelsea at the top of the Premier League, the last three games haven’t exactly gone according to plan.

A 2-2 draw at Sunderland was followed by a lacklustre goalless FA Cup tie at home to League Two minnows Plymouth Argyle then a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Southampton in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final. That’s not exactly good preparation for what is arguably the biggest game of the season for both sets of fans - Manchester United v Liverpool.

Fortunately, form goes out the window when these two sides meet. There’s pride to play for, not just three points, and Premier League matches don’t get more exciting than this. Jurgen Klopp calls them the ‘salt in the soup’.

It was goalless the last time the two clubs met in October but a year ago, almost to the day, United stole three points at Anfield with a late Wayne Rooney strike against the run of play. This time Liverpool’s defence will be stronger, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge are back from injury and Adam Lallana is playing out of his skin at the moment. Meanwhile, United are only now starting to regain their composure after a poor start to the season. It’s time to knock them down a peg or two.

This is going to be Liverpool’s turn to claim three points and maintain their push for the Premier League title.